Spring-tire.



EST AVAlLABLE COPY W. E. BAKER.

SPRING TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED Jun 29,1912.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

' sections are supported on the wieel.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNI STATES 'WILLIAM E. BAKER, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BAKER,

g a citizen of the United States, residing in Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State-of Pennsylvania have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements in Spring-Tires, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an eiiicient. substitute for the pneumatic rubber tires commonly used on the wheels of automobiles and other vehicles. Such rubber tires are very expensive, are not durable, and when punctured or ruptured are rendered inoperative.

According to my invention, I provide wheels of the class above mentioned with radially arranged springs which are attached to the eriphery of the felly and support a metal ic tire or tread made 1n sections, hinged to ether, and pivotall connected with head blocks supported by the springs. The tread sections overlap each other and have segmental bearing portions which bear on correspondingly curved surfaces on the head blocks.

I In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a part of an automobile wheel embodying my improvements, with parts broken away in order to better illustrate other parts. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is 1 a detail view, partly in plan and partly. in section, illustrating the manner in wiich the tread sections are overlapped and connected. Fig. 4 is a viewon an enlarged scale, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the wheel, showing the manner in which two overlap ing trl'ea ig. 5 is a detail plan view of the top of one of the head blocks. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the foot plates.

The hubs A, spokes B and folly C of the wheel may be of any usual construction. Surrounding the felly C is a metallic felly-band D to which is secured a series of foot plates E for the radially arranged spiral springs F. Each foot late, as shown in Figs. 2 and 0 {5, is formed with a socket e .for the foot or 11111181 convolutionof a s ring F and each fplatejs preferably secured to the folly-band byffourscrews'or bolts e',. the bolt holesbeiingpreferably' formedas 'shown in Fig. 6 5 iso that-when the footplates are assem led on the wheel e, single bolt or screw may Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed ilu ne 29, 1912. Serial No. 706,652.

SPRING-TIRE.

Patented Feb. 4,1913.

serve to firmly connect two adjacent plates. By providing the foot plates with threaded socketse, as indicated in Fig. 2, the springs may be very easily connected with them and firmly held in radial condition. The outer ends of the springs carry head blocks G, there being a head block for each spring and each having a cylindrical portion r formed with a threaded groove g to receive the outer convolution of the spring. In this way the springs may be firmly connected with the head blocks. Each head block has a boss of relatively small diameter which projects into the spring and serves to brace its outer end and stiffen it against lateral movement.

The tread of the tire is formed in sections H, H. The sections H are U-shape in cross section and have two ears h at each end projecting from each side, said ears forming continuations of the sides of the sections. The sections H are also U-shape in cross section, their side flanges it being parallel and alined with the side flanges of the sections H and also with the cars it thereof. At each end each section H is formed with cars 72. connected with the side flanges h, as shown in Fig. 3, but being closer together than said flanges and these cars are overlapped by the ears k of the section H. Each section H has at each end a segmental portion I which extends over the top of a head block G, which latter is formed with a correspondlngly curved bearing surface g which is preferably provided with a wearing piece J. The section II is formed with a transverse rib 2' which rests on the top of the segmental piece I.

The several tread sections and the head blocks are connected by bolts K which extend through the cars It and h of the sections H, H and through the upper portions of the head blocks. In this way two tread sections where they join are pivotally connected to each other and to a head bloek.

The parts hercinbeforc described may be very easily assembled or taken apart but when assembled in the manner specified, they constitute a strong, durable and ellicient tire for automobiles and other vehicles. Normally the springs F hold the tread sections in circular series concentric. with the axis of the wheel, but when any portion of the wheel is subiected to irrc ular pressure that section yields, distributing the strain to adjoining sections and without putting lOS undue strain on any part of the wheel. 1 Even when the wheel meets. an abrupt l obstruction'and one or more sections of the tread are subjected to a sudden jar or thrust,

5 the tirewill respond quickly and yield sufiiiseriesfof footlplates'placed'close together with their edges in contact and which are isiformed 'with threaded sockets, means for a securing the. foot plates to the folly, a sectional tread surrounding the felly, radially arran ed spiral springs having their lnner convo utlons detachably engaged with the threaded sockets of the foot plates, head blocks having threaded pieces engaged by the outer convolutions of the spr1ngs,- and detachable transversely arranged bolts exte'ndin through the head blocks and .throug each pair of tread sections and detaehably connecting them.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM E. BAKER. \Vitnesses:

R. U. CAPWELL, W. S. BEVAN.

, Copies 02 this patent may be obtained for Me cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

